October 2024 Sightings

31st October 2024

  • Teal: Nine birds, Loch an Ordain, Torbreck (DAH)
  • Black-headed Gull: Three birds, Clashnessie beach (DAH)

30th October 2024

  • Coot: Single bird showing again on Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll (DAH)
  • Fieldfare: Approx. 50 birds, Ardvar (Stefan Taylor)

29th October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: Two adults and two juveniles, Loch Culag (Fiona Carter).  Seen for a couple of days

28th October 2024

  • Wigeon: Two birds, Lochan na Leobaig, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Long-tailed Tit: 6+ birds near Achmelvich bridge (DAH)

25th October 2024

  • Red Grouse: Single bird, near Loch Cul Fraoich (Callum Millar)
  • Snipe: Two birds, near Loch Cul Fraoich (Callum Millar)

24th October 2024

  • Great Northern Diver: Two adults and single juvenile, Bay of Culkein (Steve & Erica Ivey)
  • Whooper Swan: Five birds over Drumbeg (Beccy Garvey)

23rd October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: 16 birds, Loch na Claise (DAH) and 24 birds, Loch Neil Bhain (DAH). Also 8 birds flying over Loch Drumbeg (Beccy Garvey). Photo Gallery - Birds
  • Coot: Single bird, Loch na Claise (DAH). This is possibly the same bird seen on Loch an Aigeil the day before.
  • Tufted Duck: Two birds (a pair), Loch na Claise (DAH)
  • (Greater) White-fronted Goose: Nine birds, Culkein Stoer (DAH). This is a notable record for Assynt with the previous handful of records being of single birds. The last reported date was 8th December 2014.
  • Great Northern Diver: Single bird, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Black-headed Gull: c100 birds, mainly adults, Culkein Stoer (DAH)
  • Turnstone: 12 birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Redwing: Many birds seen and heard flying over Strathan (Clarinda Chant).  Similar sightings until 26 October

22nd October 2024

  • Treecreeper: Single bird, Strathan (Fiona Carter)

21st October 2024

  • Coot: Single adult bird, Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll (DAH). Photo Gallery - Birds. A very infrequent record in Assynt with the last one reported being April 2019. 
  • Gannet: 200+ birds feeding just off shore, Bay of Stoer (DAH). Photo Gallery - Birds
  • Whooper Swan: Three adult birds on Lochan Fearna, Lagg (DAH)
  • Rock Pipit: c30 birds along strand line, Loch Kirkaig (DAH)
  • Woodcock: Single bird near Loch Poll hydroscheme (Beccy Garvey)
  • Brent Goose: Four birds close to northern shore, Bay of Culkein (Steve & Erica Ivey)
  • Pine Marten: Single animal feeding by Loch Culag (Fiona Carter)

20th October 2024

  • Buzzard: Single bird, Strathan (Fiona Carter)

18th October 2024

  • Redwing: 12 birds flying into the trees near Loch Poll Hydro track (DAH)

17th October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: Five birds flying over Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Brambling: Single bird in garden, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)

16th October 2024

  • House Martin: Single bird, late afternoon feeding over Culkein Drumbeg (DAH). This is a very late record for Assynt, possibly even the Highland recording area. Some previous last dates for Highland: 2022 - 29th October, 2021 - 16th October, 2020 - 7th October.
  • Raptors: Two Sparrowhawks high above a single White-tailed Eagle over Lochinver (DAH)
  • Red Admiral: Single butterfly in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Redwing: Multiple birds heard (nocturnal migrating calls), Nedd (Stefan Taylor). The first record for this winter

15th October 2024

  • Dipper: Single bird, River Kirkaig (Ken Fairchild)
  • Long-tailed Duck: Single juvenile bird, Clashnessie Bay (DAH). Photo Gallery - Birds [The following day, 16th October there were two birds present]
  • Great Northern Diver: Single bird still in breeding plumage, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Red Admiral: Single butterfly, Main Street, Lochinver (DAH)
  • Kestrel: Single bird mobbing Buzzard over Lochinver (DAH)

14th October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: Three birds, Loch an Ordain (CADL)
  • Sparrowhawk: Single female, Clashnessie (David Slator). Hunting around bird feeder

13th October 2024

  • Mistle Thrush: Five birds feeding on rowan berries near Strathcroy (DAH). Some of our winter thrushes have arrived.
  • Brent Goose: Three birds, Stoer beach (CADL)
  • Red Grouse: Single bird,  between Loch a'Braighe and Gorm Loch Mor (Calum Millar)

12th October 2024

  • Red Grouse: Two birds, east of Loch na Loinne (Calum Millar)

10th October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: A group of three birds and a group of sixteen flying over Ardvar garden (Beccy Garvey)
  • Whooper Swan: Six birds flying over Achnacarnin towards Clashnessie (Jane Livingstone)

9th October 2024

  • Whooper Swan: Seven birds flying over Ardvar garden (Beccy Garvey)
  • Red Admiral: Single butterfly in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)

8th October 2024

  • Brambling: Single female, Glendarroch garden (Chris and Fran Barley)

7th October 2024

  • Little Grebe: Single birds on Loch Drumbeg and Loch Eileanach near Lagg (DAH)

6th October 2024

  • Common Dolphin: At least 12 animals, including 2 juveniles, Bay of Clachtoll (CADL)
  • Red Deer: Stag roaring, Culkein Drumbeg peat road (DAH). Also near Clachtoll peat road (CADL)
  • Jack Snipe: Single bird disturbed from grazing land, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)

4th October 2024

  • Slow Worm: Single animal in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Red Admiral: Single butterfly, Achnacarnin garden (Pamela Mackenzie)

3rd October 2024

  • Dipper: Two or more birds, river Loanan south of Stronechrubie (Ian Evans & Gwen Richards)
  • Pink-footed Goose: Approx. 80 birds flying over Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Red Admiral Butterfly: Single butterfly, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)

2nd October 2024

  • Peacock Butterfly: Single butterfly in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Pink-Footed Goose: Skeins of 80, 60 and 30 birds flying over Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Meadow Brown Butterfly: Several fairly worn specimens, road to Glencanisp Lodge (DAH)
  • Black Darter Dragonfly: Two male dragonflies, basking in the sun, road to Glencanisp Lodge (DAH). Photo Gallery - Dragonflies
  • Barn Owl: Single bird, Skiag junction (Dorell Pirie).  Also single bird in flight between Elphin and Ledmore junction (Dorell Pirie)

1st October 2024

  • Common Dolphin: Sightings of up to 12 animals off Stoer Head Lighthouse, Rubh'an Dunain and Culkein Stoer (DAH)
  • Great Northern Diver: Single bird off Culkein Stoer (DAH)
  • Carrion Crow: Single bird in the company of a Hooded Crow, Culkein Stoer (DAH)
  • Redshank: Two birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Ringed Plover: 16 birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Pink-footed Goose: Multiple skeins of approx. 60, 50, 80, 60 and 40 flying over Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Grey Heron: Two birds on beach at low tide, Bay of Stoer (CADL)

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